I believe they are one and the same; Florida has a habit of putting their own names on things. The Cara Cara orange is sold in Florida as Red Navel; the Sambokan lemon, as Sambo lemon, etc.

Johnmerr, is correct. Florida Honeybell and Minneola Tangelo are the very same variety. -S-

Thanks. I thought so according to most of what I've read. I had what was marked as a 'Minneola' from Peru the other day, and while it was great, it didn't taste like the Florida tangelos.

I have a Minneola that is 30+ years old in a hot inland valley in Southern California. It is very, very good. I have to wonder if the people that say they are bitter are in an area that doesn't have the heat for them to sweeten up. They are a bit sour if picked early and have a musky taste when picked way past their prime.

I agree Greg, its hard to beat a perfectly ripe Minneola, they are a unique flavored fruit with a really nice balance of sweet tart and something else I can only describe as spicy/tangy. - you guys know what I mean :)

i had wondered this last week as i was thinking about fruit gifts for Christmas.

found this info

The Minneola tangelo (sometimes misspelled "Mineola") is a cross between a Duncan grapefruit and a Dancy tangerine, and was released in 1931 by the USDA Horticultural Research Station in Orlando.

A true Honeybell Tangelo is a hybrid-cross between Thompson tangerine and a pomelo, hence the name Tangelo released by the USDA.

the Honeybells tend to be larger and sweeter. The peel color, when mature, is a bright-reddish-orange color. The rind of the Minneola is relatively thin, while the rind of the Honeybell is slightly thicker.

Here is a link that might be useful: differences Minneola and Honeybell

If you want a really good Minneola, be sure the label says it is from California. In my experience all others pale by comparison.

I think in Florida, what is marketed as a 'Honeybell' is probably coming from a pampered tree, maybe where the fruit is thinned to create larger fruit, then picked at perfection and stored for very little time. They are mostly sold in-state or in gift boxes shipped out quickly.

Similar to the Sumo in Japan.